I went to our local post office this morning - it was open on a Saturday morning because we're rural, and sometimes folks can only get to the P.O. on Saturday.
The lady behind the counter was not the usual person, and as soon as she greeted me, in perfect English, she apologized for the fact that she might not figure out the various options for mailing my parcel as quickly as the regular post mistress would. Well, I could wait an extra minute or two for such an honest admission!
Eventually we got it all worked out, and then she went on a hunt for the book in which I could sign that my parcel was going out of province and then I wouldn't have to pay PST! Splendid idea! Most of my parcels go out of province, and I can't remember ever having this option before. Book found, she began to fill in the details. I could tell she was struggling about something, and finally she looked up at me, genuinely apologetic, and said, "I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask your name."
Where else but in the country would post office employees think it their duty to know everyone by name? And as it turned out, she did know my first name - it was the family name that she was struggling with! (probably confused between Ross and Aird...or maybe even Beck) And we have been in this community all of 13 months! Wow! We say country folks are friendly, and they care about their neighbours, and apparently it starts right from the Post Office!
Saturday, March 29, 2008
An awesome responsibility ...
There’s something I want to look at from the gospel this week (John 20:19-31). It’s the part where Jesus breathes on his disciples and empowers them to carry on his work in the world.
Listen to this:
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” ?
I've always found this a troublesome passage, and I’m sure it’s been used against people in a most awful controlling way.
Jesus himself didn’t bind anyone by refusing to forgive them – everyone he encountered he forgave. Forgiveness seemed to be his most plentiful gift! So why, then, would he tell the disciples that if they retained the sins of anyone, they would be retained????
Perhaps it’s the language used here that makes it so confusing. Is Jesus telling the disciples to judge? Is he saying, the people you forgive will be forgiven, and those you choose not to forgive will never be forgiven? That’s quite a power trip, isn’t it?
Think about it for a minute: why would Jesus say that? Why would he, a man who forgave everyone, even those who crucified him, tell us, mere mortals, to judge others and decide on their merit for forgiveness?
In Peterson’s translation, I think the meaning comes out a little clearer:
“If you don’t forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?”
Forgiveness is vital – vital to Life itself! When we don’t forgive someone we bind them – and we bind ourselves! We freeze the situation – there’s no room for change, for improvement, everything stays captured in that wrong – that hurt. It’s only when we forgive, and are forgiven, that there’s the opportunity to start over – to try again – to make a fresh start. That’s why the church recognizes the importance of confession – so we can be forgiven and reconciled (not so our sins can be held against us forever) – but so we can say we’re sorry and let them go, and start on a clean page.
When Adam & Eve sinned in the garden, God didn’t hold them prisoners there forever in punishment! He put them out of the Garden to make a fresh start – to find a new way of being. There were consequences to what they did – there are consequences to every choice we make every day – but God didn’t hold them prisoners – unforgiven – unable to move forward into the fullness of life God wanted for them! God gave them the opportunity to find a different way.
And so I believe Jesus is cautioning the disciples here – cautioning them that if they don’t forgive someone, what are they going to do? Are they going to judge? To punish? Jesus didn't given them the power to do that. “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”
And so he tells them, after he breathes the Holy Spirit into them, that they have the power to forgive. That they, too, have the power to release the captives – those who are held captive by their sins – and set the prisoners free – but he knows what human are like. He knows our every weakness – especially the love of power … and so he adds the caution:
If you don’t forgive them, what are you going to do with them?
They – and you – are going to be trapped forever – chained forever to their misdeed – without the opportunity to find a new way to fullness of life in God. That’s a horrible thought! You, me, taking the responsibility for blocking another human being’s way to fullness of life in God! Not a responsibility I want on my list when I face St. Peter @ the pearly gates!
And remember, that means us, too. We have the power to forgive – we have God’s invitation, nay - commandment, to forgive each other – and if we choose not to …….... what are we going to do with the consequences?
Listen to this:
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” ?
I've always found this a troublesome passage, and I’m sure it’s been used against people in a most awful controlling way.
Jesus himself didn’t bind anyone by refusing to forgive them – everyone he encountered he forgave. Forgiveness seemed to be his most plentiful gift! So why, then, would he tell the disciples that if they retained the sins of anyone, they would be retained????
Perhaps it’s the language used here that makes it so confusing. Is Jesus telling the disciples to judge? Is he saying, the people you forgive will be forgiven, and those you choose not to forgive will never be forgiven? That’s quite a power trip, isn’t it?
Think about it for a minute: why would Jesus say that? Why would he, a man who forgave everyone, even those who crucified him, tell us, mere mortals, to judge others and decide on their merit for forgiveness?
In Peterson’s translation, I think the meaning comes out a little clearer:
“If you don’t forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?”
Forgiveness is vital – vital to Life itself! When we don’t forgive someone we bind them – and we bind ourselves! We freeze the situation – there’s no room for change, for improvement, everything stays captured in that wrong – that hurt. It’s only when we forgive, and are forgiven, that there’s the opportunity to start over – to try again – to make a fresh start. That’s why the church recognizes the importance of confession – so we can be forgiven and reconciled (not so our sins can be held against us forever) – but so we can say we’re sorry and let them go, and start on a clean page.
When Adam & Eve sinned in the garden, God didn’t hold them prisoners there forever in punishment! He put them out of the Garden to make a fresh start – to find a new way of being. There were consequences to what they did – there are consequences to every choice we make every day – but God didn’t hold them prisoners – unforgiven – unable to move forward into the fullness of life God wanted for them! God gave them the opportunity to find a different way.
And so I believe Jesus is cautioning the disciples here – cautioning them that if they don’t forgive someone, what are they going to do? Are they going to judge? To punish? Jesus didn't given them the power to do that. “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”
And so he tells them, after he breathes the Holy Spirit into them, that they have the power to forgive. That they, too, have the power to release the captives – those who are held captive by their sins – and set the prisoners free – but he knows what human are like. He knows our every weakness – especially the love of power … and so he adds the caution:
If you don’t forgive them, what are you going to do with them?
They – and you – are going to be trapped forever – chained forever to their misdeed – without the opportunity to find a new way to fullness of life in God. That’s a horrible thought! You, me, taking the responsibility for blocking another human being’s way to fullness of life in God! Not a responsibility I want on my list when I face St. Peter @ the pearly gates!
And remember, that means us, too. We have the power to forgive – we have God’s invitation, nay - commandment, to forgive each other – and if we choose not to …….... what are we going to do with the consequences?
Saturday, March 22, 2008
For Easter
RESURRECTION!
The rising to life again of our Lord Jesus Christ after his death on the cross.
The ultimate sign to the world that evil and sin do not have the last word: God has the last word and God’s word is LIFE
HE LIVES! It’s our hope – it’s our faith – it’s the foundation of our Christian identity…
All the stories of Jesus’ earthly ministry – the healings, the miracles, the acceptance of outcasts – were all stories of life triumphing over darkness…people being brought from ‘deadening’ situations to a new state of life, to another chance to live into the fullness of God’s plan for us.
The Resurrection is what Christians hold onto in our darkest moments: the firm belief that in Christ’s rising from the dead good triumphed over evil. God can make something good out of the worst situation. … That’s perhaps also our most difficult article of belief, isn’t it?
It’s easy enough to look at the increasing snowbanks these days (in my part of the country), and then at the calendar, and say ‘It IS Spring, and this will all eventually melt and it will water the land well for crops this year and fill the rivers and lakes for fish.”! (and we hope there won’t be floods). It’s harder to hold onto that sense of hope when someone I love is battling addictions, or cancer, or has just lost his or her job … It’s harder to imagine just what good God will make out of this tragedy…
So let’s return for a minute to our Gospel story this morning (John 20:1-18):
Mary was the first one to meet the risen Lord. Why didn’t he reveal himself to the other disciples also? I'd like to suggest that our Lord revealed himself to Mary because she came with her HEART…the same way we’re asked to come before this great mystery of Resurrection and new life.
Mary came filled with love for her friend Jesus – she risked being seen by the authorities as one of his followers (it says she came while it was still dark), she wept, she came perhaps simply to be near him. She didn’t even look inside the tomb at first. The men came. They looked inside. Saw the evidence. And we’re told – “he believed” – one of them, at least. And they went home … to puzzle it out, I suspect. They went home to try to make some sense (mentally, intellectually) out of what they had seen … They must have been confused, perhaps even afraid at this turn of events. But Jesus didn’t reveal himself to them…
But Mary stayed on, weeping, still convinced someone had taken her Jesus’ body – she stayed because of her love, her heart… And when she finally stole a glance into the tomb she saw two angels! And they spoke to her: why are you weeping? She told them the obvious: “someone has taken away my Lord”. And then a man appears in the garden, and asks her the same question: Why are you weeping? So, she thinks, he might be the gardener – perhaps he moved the body, or at least saw who did. And then Jesus calls her by name: MARY! Wow!
In that moment she recognized him : recognized him with her eyes, as her friend Jesus, and from the depths of her heart, as her Lord.
But Jesus said don’t hold onto me. (Just picture how much Mary must have wanted to cling to him! My Lord, my Lord, I thought you were dead – I thought they had stolen your body – etc. etc.) You know how it is when you are reunited with someone precious whom you haven’t seen for a very long time, or someone that you love dearly and you were really worried for their safety or health …. How we cling to them, how we need to feel their physical presence …! But Jesus says no – go and tell the brothers that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.
He chose the person who recognized him – with her heart – to go and tell the Good News!
I believe that this is how we, too, must come before the Resurrection. We must come with our hearts. It’s not something to believe with our heads – with our intellect. We come with our deepest love -with our most wounded and hurting selves- weeping, as Mary did for all that we have lost… for what might have been… and Jesus calls us by name! He lives! And in that moment we too come back to LIFE. Our burdens are lifted, our Lord is here to help us carry them. God has the last word, and that word is LIFE. Life can begin again. A fresh start! The triumph of good over evil!
And like Mary, we are called to go and tell the others … to share the Good News – that Christ is indeed risen from the dead and because of his rising we, too, can Live again!
Alleluia! Thanks be to God!
The rising to life again of our Lord Jesus Christ after his death on the cross.
The ultimate sign to the world that evil and sin do not have the last word: God has the last word and God’s word is LIFE
HE LIVES! It’s our hope – it’s our faith – it’s the foundation of our Christian identity…
All the stories of Jesus’ earthly ministry – the healings, the miracles, the acceptance of outcasts – were all stories of life triumphing over darkness…people being brought from ‘deadening’ situations to a new state of life, to another chance to live into the fullness of God’s plan for us.
The Resurrection is what Christians hold onto in our darkest moments: the firm belief that in Christ’s rising from the dead good triumphed over evil. God can make something good out of the worst situation. … That’s perhaps also our most difficult article of belief, isn’t it?
It’s easy enough to look at the increasing snowbanks these days (in my part of the country), and then at the calendar, and say ‘It IS Spring, and this will all eventually melt and it will water the land well for crops this year and fill the rivers and lakes for fish.”! (and we hope there won’t be floods). It’s harder to hold onto that sense of hope when someone I love is battling addictions, or cancer, or has just lost his or her job … It’s harder to imagine just what good God will make out of this tragedy…
So let’s return for a minute to our Gospel story this morning (John 20:1-18):
Mary was the first one to meet the risen Lord. Why didn’t he reveal himself to the other disciples also? I'd like to suggest that our Lord revealed himself to Mary because she came with her HEART…the same way we’re asked to come before this great mystery of Resurrection and new life.
Mary came filled with love for her friend Jesus – she risked being seen by the authorities as one of his followers (it says she came while it was still dark), she wept, she came perhaps simply to be near him. She didn’t even look inside the tomb at first. The men came. They looked inside. Saw the evidence. And we’re told – “he believed” – one of them, at least. And they went home … to puzzle it out, I suspect. They went home to try to make some sense (mentally, intellectually) out of what they had seen … They must have been confused, perhaps even afraid at this turn of events. But Jesus didn’t reveal himself to them…
But Mary stayed on, weeping, still convinced someone had taken her Jesus’ body – she stayed because of her love, her heart… And when she finally stole a glance into the tomb she saw two angels! And they spoke to her: why are you weeping? She told them the obvious: “someone has taken away my Lord”. And then a man appears in the garden, and asks her the same question: Why are you weeping? So, she thinks, he might be the gardener – perhaps he moved the body, or at least saw who did. And then Jesus calls her by name: MARY! Wow!
In that moment she recognized him : recognized him with her eyes, as her friend Jesus, and from the depths of her heart, as her Lord.
But Jesus said don’t hold onto me. (Just picture how much Mary must have wanted to cling to him! My Lord, my Lord, I thought you were dead – I thought they had stolen your body – etc. etc.) You know how it is when you are reunited with someone precious whom you haven’t seen for a very long time, or someone that you love dearly and you were really worried for their safety or health …. How we cling to them, how we need to feel their physical presence …! But Jesus says no – go and tell the brothers that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.
He chose the person who recognized him – with her heart – to go and tell the Good News!
I believe that this is how we, too, must come before the Resurrection. We must come with our hearts. It’s not something to believe with our heads – with our intellect. We come with our deepest love -with our most wounded and hurting selves- weeping, as Mary did for all that we have lost… for what might have been… and Jesus calls us by name! He lives! And in that moment we too come back to LIFE. Our burdens are lifted, our Lord is here to help us carry them. God has the last word, and that word is LIFE. Life can begin again. A fresh start! The triumph of good over evil!
And like Mary, we are called to go and tell the others … to share the Good News – that Christ is indeed risen from the dead and because of his rising we, too, can Live again!
Alleluia! Thanks be to God!
Saturday, March 15, 2008
A request for sermons...
Sermon Lent 5a March 9/08
Preamble:
Ezekial’s vision of the Valley of the Dry Bones (Ezekial 37:1-14) and the Gospel story of the raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-45) are so much alike: what humans believe see as dead can be brought back to life by the breath of God!
Vs 14: “I will put my spirit within you and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I the Lord have spoken and will act”, says the Lord.
The vision to Ezekial of the valley of dried up bones: complete desolation – no human possibility for life (not just dried up land or crops that we might hope to somehow revive if we could find enough water….)
In the Gospel, Lazarus had been dead 4 days – starting to smell/rot, no hope of human life, Jewish belief that soul lingered for 3 days …
Dramatic revival to make a point of God’s power and glory – another of John’s ‘signs’ of Jesus’ divinity, we’ve been following these past few weeks…
What can we take from these readings? How can they speak to us this morning as something more than stories from the past?
1) First on a personal level - Are there parts of your life that have dried up? Have our hearts dried up with sadness, disappointment, fear, hurt…God can restore you! God can breathe new life into you!
Who has not felt, at some point of hurt or loss or despair that his/her life was over?
I feel confident in saying that each of us here has felt ‘dead’ at some point - felt like we would never smile or dance or sing or feel ‘truly alive’ again. And yet …. I have seen you all do that! I know you are alive! I know God has breathed new life into that part of you that had died – restored you, just as Ezekial saw the dried bones coming to life again – just as Jesus brought Lazarus back to life, just as God raised Jesus from death on the cross.
They were all situations of NO MORE HOPE – The END.
And the beautiful thing is that God offers us that new life, over and over again … “new every morning is the love” (words of John Keble, early 1800s) – Grace – new life – fullness of life – life where we thought there was only death…
It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? Life throws some awful ‘deaths’ at us – and even Jesus wept, wept for his friend. But we have God’s promise of new life – of resurrection from that which deadens us – kills our very souls…. That’s our faith … wonderful mysterious Faith …
2) and what about as a community? Have we died? Do we feel dried up? Where is the life in us? Are we alive here on Sunday morning? Are we alive as a community during the week? Do people look at us and say – see how much they love one another? In both our stories today the bringing back to life was clearly to be a sign of God’s power and glory – to lead people to glorify God, to believe in God. Is that what we do here?
Well, I think that our wonderful summer breakfasts and strawberry festival do that – People look at the work that is done by a very few and they are amazed. They come – they flock to the doors of the hall, and enjoy hospitality and friendship. Those are things of God! We’re doing well – we seem to be alive. ;)
But I want to suggest that we might be more effective for God if we did it in a different spirit… not focusing on how much work it is and what will happen when we can’t manage any more, but do it intentionally – with the intent of bringing glory to God!
As a thanksgiving for the gifts we have: life and health and strength – a cozy hall – friendship that draws people to work together. God’s abundance! J
This is not something to be hoarded – to be greedily kept for ourselves – this is to be shared! This opportunity to give thanks – to give glory to God: that’s our sole purpose, you know – that is ALL that we were created for: to glorify God!
I’ve been inviting you since Christmas to pray and listen for God’s instructions for us here. As soon as the weather permits, we’re going to get together at the hall, and count our blessings, and tell the stories of this community, and see how God wants to breathe new life into us … revive us to glorify him. Dream about what it might look like when our dried ole’ bones come together and receive the life-giving ‘ruach’ – the breath of the Spirit. And whatever it looks like, it will glorify God. It will bring others to believe – (just as the raising of Lazarus did) to see the breadth of possibility for new life when we open ourselves to God’s Spirit … when we let it blow over us and into us. I’m calling you to faith – I share Ezekial’s vision J
And now I want to teach you a very special prayer this morning…a prayer that I think helps us to receive this enlivening Breath. I’ve mentioned it before. It’s definitely my favourite – Thomas Merton’s prayer. We’ll go through it a couple of times so that you can really get the ‘feel’ of it, cause that’s what’s important.
So, I’d like you to stand up now, please – give yourselves a bit of room – almost arms length apart – there’s lots of space in here!
v Start with hands together – bow head – address God
v Bow to earth – acknowledge gifts for life – Mother Earth
v Open ourselves – really open, like ready to receive a BIG hug! Imagine child, grandchild, long lost friend running toward you – open arms WIDE!
v Hug yourself – enfold all those gifts – that new life, breath, Spirit, into yourself. Stay for a moment – feel God’s breath and love nourishing you, warming you, filling you up, strengthening you ….
v Send it out now as a gift to the world! Extend your arms as if offering something out in a large and generous gesture. Share your abundance. Share the life God has given you! There’s lots more where that came from! Don’t worry about scarcity. “It is in giving that we receive” (prayer of st francis)
v Bow again – in thanksgiving
X 2 – and then actually pray it.
Don’t feel uncomfortable – no one’s watching- we can all face same way… Towards sun?
I want you to try this again someday, by yourself. Don’t worry if you forget the words –you’ll remember the actions. Have you ever walked into a room and felt the warmth of the sunshine fall on you? Or stepped outside – especially these days when the sun is really feeling warm? Stop, right there when you feel that, and do this prayer. Open your arms WIDE – feel your lungs expand and your body warm with God’s love. Experience the breath of God filling you with Life – and give thanks!
Amen.
Preamble:
Ezekial’s vision of the Valley of the Dry Bones (Ezekial 37:1-14) and the Gospel story of the raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-45) are so much alike: what humans believe see as dead can be brought back to life by the breath of God!
Vs 14: “I will put my spirit within you and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I the Lord have spoken and will act”, says the Lord.
The vision to Ezekial of the valley of dried up bones: complete desolation – no human possibility for life (not just dried up land or crops that we might hope to somehow revive if we could find enough water….)
In the Gospel, Lazarus had been dead 4 days – starting to smell/rot, no hope of human life, Jewish belief that soul lingered for 3 days …
Dramatic revival to make a point of God’s power and glory – another of John’s ‘signs’ of Jesus’ divinity, we’ve been following these past few weeks…
What can we take from these readings? How can they speak to us this morning as something more than stories from the past?
1) First on a personal level - Are there parts of your life that have dried up? Have our hearts dried up with sadness, disappointment, fear, hurt…God can restore you! God can breathe new life into you!
Who has not felt, at some point of hurt or loss or despair that his/her life was over?
I feel confident in saying that each of us here has felt ‘dead’ at some point - felt like we would never smile or dance or sing or feel ‘truly alive’ again. And yet …. I have seen you all do that! I know you are alive! I know God has breathed new life into that part of you that had died – restored you, just as Ezekial saw the dried bones coming to life again – just as Jesus brought Lazarus back to life, just as God raised Jesus from death on the cross.
They were all situations of NO MORE HOPE – The END.
And the beautiful thing is that God offers us that new life, over and over again … “new every morning is the love” (words of John Keble, early 1800s) – Grace – new life – fullness of life – life where we thought there was only death…
It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? Life throws some awful ‘deaths’ at us – and even Jesus wept, wept for his friend. But we have God’s promise of new life – of resurrection from that which deadens us – kills our very souls…. That’s our faith … wonderful mysterious Faith …
2) and what about as a community? Have we died? Do we feel dried up? Where is the life in us? Are we alive here on Sunday morning? Are we alive as a community during the week? Do people look at us and say – see how much they love one another? In both our stories today the bringing back to life was clearly to be a sign of God’s power and glory – to lead people to glorify God, to believe in God. Is that what we do here?
Well, I think that our wonderful summer breakfasts and strawberry festival do that – People look at the work that is done by a very few and they are amazed. They come – they flock to the doors of the hall, and enjoy hospitality and friendship. Those are things of God! We’re doing well – we seem to be alive. ;)
But I want to suggest that we might be more effective for God if we did it in a different spirit… not focusing on how much work it is and what will happen when we can’t manage any more, but do it intentionally – with the intent of bringing glory to God!
As a thanksgiving for the gifts we have: life and health and strength – a cozy hall – friendship that draws people to work together. God’s abundance! J
This is not something to be hoarded – to be greedily kept for ourselves – this is to be shared! This opportunity to give thanks – to give glory to God: that’s our sole purpose, you know – that is ALL that we were created for: to glorify God!
I’ve been inviting you since Christmas to pray and listen for God’s instructions for us here. As soon as the weather permits, we’re going to get together at the hall, and count our blessings, and tell the stories of this community, and see how God wants to breathe new life into us … revive us to glorify him. Dream about what it might look like when our dried ole’ bones come together and receive the life-giving ‘ruach’ – the breath of the Spirit. And whatever it looks like, it will glorify God. It will bring others to believe – (just as the raising of Lazarus did) to see the breadth of possibility for new life when we open ourselves to God’s Spirit … when we let it blow over us and into us. I’m calling you to faith – I share Ezekial’s vision J
And now I want to teach you a very special prayer this morning…a prayer that I think helps us to receive this enlivening Breath. I’ve mentioned it before. It’s definitely my favourite – Thomas Merton’s prayer. We’ll go through it a couple of times so that you can really get the ‘feel’ of it, cause that’s what’s important.
So, I’d like you to stand up now, please – give yourselves a bit of room – almost arms length apart – there’s lots of space in here!
v Start with hands together – bow head – address God
v Bow to earth – acknowledge gifts for life – Mother Earth
v Open ourselves – really open, like ready to receive a BIG hug! Imagine child, grandchild, long lost friend running toward you – open arms WIDE!
v Hug yourself – enfold all those gifts – that new life, breath, Spirit, into yourself. Stay for a moment – feel God’s breath and love nourishing you, warming you, filling you up, strengthening you ….
v Send it out now as a gift to the world! Extend your arms as if offering something out in a large and generous gesture. Share your abundance. Share the life God has given you! There’s lots more where that came from! Don’t worry about scarcity. “It is in giving that we receive” (prayer of st francis)
v Bow again – in thanksgiving
X 2 – and then actually pray it.
Don’t feel uncomfortable – no one’s watching- we can all face same way… Towards sun?
I want you to try this again someday, by yourself. Don’t worry if you forget the words –you’ll remember the actions. Have you ever walked into a room and felt the warmth of the sunshine fall on you? Or stepped outside – especially these days when the sun is really feeling warm? Stop, right there when you feel that, and do this prayer. Open your arms WIDE – feel your lungs expand and your body warm with God’s love. Experience the breath of God filling you with Life – and give thanks!
Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)